Hey if its any help, I got some good info here on integrating a compressor into my rig:
http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=4428.0I ended up with a DBX-166A, FMR RNC, and FMR RNLA. After spending about a year with them, I can tell you that I use the 166A the most for just good, relatively transparent "evening out" of my live bass sound. Think I paid about $80 for that unit used.
The RNLA leveling amp is nice effect too, but that one colors the sound and adds a thickness/grit. Useful sometimes...
I don't care at all for the RNC. I think that one is way over-hyped. Prone to artifacts, and kinda futsy to dial-in as a result - at least in my experience with it. It is transparent sounding, but I get much better results with the DBX in that space.
There were several pedal comps mentioned in that thread too.
Somewhere there is a huge (mind-numbingly huge!) "shootout" site evaluating various comps with bass. If you search on Talkbass you'll probably see reference to it. I spent hours digging through that.